ratch ment

[Etym. doubtful.] Arch.: A kind of flying buttre which springs from the principals of a herse, and meets against the central or chief principal. ( Oxford Glo ary.) Ratchments. rāte, s . [O. Fr., from Lat. ratum =neut. sing. of ratus =determined, fixed, settled, pa. par. of reor = to think, to judge.] I. Ordinary Language : 1. The proportion or standard by which any quantity or value is adjusted. 2. The price or value fixed on anything with relation to a standard; settled sum, amount, or proportion. "It is only shame and repentance that men buy at such costly rates."-Sharp: Sermons , vol. ii., ser. 11. 3. A tax or sum a e ed by a competent authority on property in proportion to its value for public purposes; a local tax. "They paid the church and parish rate." Prior: An Epitaph *4. A settled and regular allowance. "The one right feeble through the evil rate Of food." Spenser: F. Q., IV. viii. 19. 5. The degree or particular style in which any ially in regard to the degree of speed at which it is done. Chem.: C10H13NO3. A compound occurring in the extract of rhatany root. The extract is treated with basic acetate of lead; and the filtrate freed from lead by sulphydric acid yields, on evaporation, crystals which, when purified, form an aggregation thing is done; the manner of doing anything, especof delicate white needles. Ratanhine di olves to some extent in boiling water, slightly in boiling spirit, and is quite insoluble in absolute alcohol and ether. Mixed with nitric acid and heated to the boiling point, it turns rose-red and then rubyred, finally becoming blue. It unites both with acids and alkalies. răt-an-ỹ, rhat-an-ỹ, rat-tan-ỹ, ra-tăn'hi-a, 8. [Peruv. ratan a.) (See compound.) ratany-root, s. Bot.: Krameria triandra . [For its qualities see Krameria.]